Too often, when people travel, they only skim the surface of their destination. They might check out a few sights listed in their guidebook, snap some photos of interesting buildings, and eat at a few recommended restaurants—but what about what’s deeper? To help you really sink your teeth into a country and get a true sense of place, here are some tips for cultural immersion.
Give Yourself a Mission
Giving yourself a mission in the city you’re visiting can help you delve deeper into one specific facet of the culture. While in Rio de Janeiro, you may want to learn how to samba like a professional. Your quest in Barcelona may be to find the city’s best tapas restaurant. Maybe in Ghana, you become interested in their “Ghanaian lingerie” beads, so you set off to learn what you can about the handicraft.
During a trip to Australia, I set out on a mission to find the country’s quintessential dish. I ate and drank my way from Melbourne all the way down to Kangaroo Island, interviewing locals, chefs, restaurant owners, and wine connoisseurs. What did I learn? Australia’s quintessential cuisine isn’t a dish but a philosophy—a melting pot of cultures creating high-quality meals with locally sourced ingredients, served in welcoming spaces.
Take Part in a Homestay
For those wanting to learn about a culture from the ground level, partaking in a homestay is your best option when it comes to accommodation. For those who don’t know, a homestay is when you actually live with a local, getting a glimpse into the everyday life of an average person in the community. Websites like Se7ev, CouchSurfing, and HomestayBooking can help you find a host. Make sure when doing a homestay that you take part in daily life as much as possible, even if the activity isn’t something you would normally do. For example, when I lived with a family in Ghana, I had the opportunity to attend Sunday church service. While I do not attend church in my hometown of New York, I found it to be an interesting cultural experience in Africa.
If doing a homestay is out of your comfort zone, opt for accommodation that reflects the local culture. Hostels, guesthouses, ranches, ecolodges, and boutique hotels are usually good about this. For example, the Art Factory in Buenos Aires adorns the walls with graffiti to reflect the city’s street art culture, while the Southern Ocean Lodge on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island uses panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the property to allow guests to take in the island’s untouched nature at all times. They also use locally sourced ingredients on their menu and organize nature activities for guests.
Befriend Locals
Instead of only talking to your travel companions, try chatting with some locals. Your cab driver is a good start, as it’s their job to know every corner of the city. Talk to baristas, artisans, waitstaff, tour guides, chefs, market vendors, hotel staff—anyone you encounter who lives in the area. You’ll naturally learn about proper ways to interact and daily rituals, and you might discover lesser-known but worthwhile sites in the city.
Travel Alone
When you travel in a group, you often become confined to the group and are less likely to venture off and meet locals. Moreover, if there’s a cultural facet you’re interested in and your travel companions aren’t, you may end up missing out. As someone who has traveled both alone and in groups numerous times, I’ve found solo travel more conducive to cultural adventures—you’re simply more likely to get out there and explore.
Do Etiquette Research Beforehand
In order to build a good rapport with the locals, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t doing anything offensive. Did you know that in Japan it’s impolite to sneeze or cough in public? Or that in Thailand, it’s taboo to sit with your legs pointing straight out or to touch someone’s head? Don’t assume every culture shares the same taboos and etiquette. Do your research and understand the norms of where you’re going.
Be Alert
Lessons in culture are happening all around you, from the way someone orders coffee to how friends greet each other. For instance, I remember sitting at a fast food restaurant in Ghana with a local friend, Michael, when I overheard the man next to us propose to his girlfriend. She laughed and declined. When I asked Michael if it was normal for a man in baggy jeans to propose over fried chicken and French fries, he told me it was. Not only that, but many men would propose by the third date. After that, a proposal might be seen by a Ghanaian woman as the man taking advantage of the friendship.
Attend a Festival
Not only are festivals fun—they’re also culturally enlightening. Whether you’re interested in music, art, religion, history, or something else, find a festival that centers around it and plan your trip around the event. Some exciting cultural festivals around the world include Chinese New Year in China, the Magh Mela Festival in India, Carnival in Brazil, and the Festival of San Fermin in Spain.
Dine in the Streets
Instead of asking the concierge which restaurant to head to for dinner, hit the streets and see what’s on display. While some people are afraid of street food, it’s where you’ll often find the most authentic and freshest cuisine. Choripán in Argentina, cuy in Ecuador, crepes in Paris, pho in Vietnam, and pad thai in Thailand have been some of my favorite meals abroad—all from street vendors. If you’re really in the mood to sit in a restaurant, at least choose one that’s away from the tourist areas, sources locally, and—if you’re in a non-English-speaking country—doesn’t have an English menu.
Don’t Just Browse Markets
Try to stay away from touristy souvenir markets and check out the ones where locals shop. You’ll see how many locals make their livelihoods, what types of crafts they favor, and what materials they use. When exploring a market, don’t just browse—touch, smell, taste (if it’s edible), and ask questions. Try to seek out regional specialties, too. For example, Ecuador has many communities known for certain handicrafts: Panama hats in Sig Sig, gold and silver filigree jewelry in Chordeleg, and mazapan in Calderon.
Learn Some History
The only way to truly understand a place and its people is to understand its past. Spend time in museums and libraries, and try to uncover interesting facts that help explain current customs or rituals. For example, in Bolivia, the pollera skirt often worn by Indigenous women was originally imposed on them by the Spanish conquerors in 1548. While once a symbol of oppression, it’s now embraced as a symbol of pride.
Take a Class
When visiting a city, look into taking a class or signing up for a workshop to learn about a cultural facet. For example, cocoa is a rich part of Saint Lucia’s culture, so why not take a chocolate-making class? Similarly, karate was born in Okinawa, tango in Argentina, and samba in Brazil.
Do as the Locals Do
An easy way to learn about a place is to do as the locals do. Mimic their behavior and try to put yourself in their shoes. This is much easier if you’re doing a homestay or interacting with people in the community. If most people take the bus, skip the taxi and try public transport. If they eat rice and pork for breakfast instead of cereal, give it a try. Adapting as much as possible leads to a more immersive experience.
Get a Job or Volunteer
A great way to dive into local culture is to become part of the society. By getting a job or volunteering, you’ll be an active part of the community, forced to interact with locals, experience daily routines, and learn more about local business and social issues. Having a routine helps put you in a local mindset, which deepens cultural exploration.
Hire a Guide
While some people are hesitant to hire a guide, there are many benefits. Local guides are trained to share deep insights about sites and culture. If there’s somewhere you want to explore or learn more about, a guide can share quirky facts and hidden history you might otherwise miss. For example, when visiting Cajas National Park in Peru, I hired a guide who taught me about medicinal plants, Inca legends, and how the park once housed a secret brewery during Prohibition. He also told me that the twisted quinoa woodland there is the world’s tallest forest—something I wouldn’t have known without a guide. A guide is especially helpful if you don’t speak the local language and want to ask questions of artisans, vendors, and other locals you meet.
